This touching love story will move many to tears. Its action-packed sequences by martial arts director Ching Siu Tung will also keep viewers awestruck. It is directed by Jingle Ma, and stars Charlene Choi (from Twins), Wu Chun (from Fahrenheit) and Hu Ge.

It starts off with Zhu Yan Zhi (Charlene Choi) waking up from a recurring dream she has had since young. In the dream, she sees a man waiting for her in a valley full of butterflies. She then dresses up as a man and goes into the mountains to learn martial arts. There, she is placed under the care of Liang Zhong Shan (Wu Chun), a senior member of the martial arts group.

After 100 days, she is put through a test to determine if her martial arts skills are good enough for her to stay on.

In those 100 days, Zhong Shan discovers that Yan Zhi is a female and their feelings for each other start to grow, and both of them realise that they have found the person they have been dreaming of since young.

But soon after the 100th day, Yan Zhi finds out that she is betrothed to her childhood friend Ma Cheng En (Hu Ge). Although she does not love him, she has no choice but to marry him, as her parents will be held captive until the day of their marriage.

Zhong Shan finds out about the marriage and does all he can to stop it. But can he stop it in time? And what are the sacrifices they have to make to be together? Watch this show to find out the lovers’ fate!

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On Air revolves mainly around the “behind the scene” happenings during the production of a television drama. The show features four main actors and actresses – Jang Ki Joon, a manager of famous artistes, Oh Seung Ah, a rising star managed by Jang, Lee Kyung Min, a drama PD and Seo Young Eun, a scriptwriter with a young son.

It is rare for four artistes to share the limelight, given the limited air-time; there could be disastrous consequences if such a delicate situation isn’t handled properly. However, it turns out that there is no cause for worry as the lives and romance of all the four main characters are dealt with fairly well.

In this show, we see the production team and the performers trying to complete a project on a tight schedule. They all have different roles to play and hold differing viewpoints, and their myriad conflicting interests are played out in various scenes of the show.

For instance, the scriptwriter’s role is imperative; how she edits the script can affect the outcome the story. She has the power to banish actors/ actresses from the story if they infuriate her, like have the character meet a car accident or go away for overseas studies.

And if you are a drama PD, you may face pressure from the Chief, and your livelihood may be threatened if the scriptwriter doesn’t cooperate with you. And you also have to deal with other condescending drama PDs who are contemptuous of your work. And if you are a manager, you may face risks of bankruptcy, get betrayed by former actresses who cross over to “greener pastures”, be disparaged by drama PDs who judge people according to their status and have to bear with the ever-changing temperaments of actresses.

The storyline of this show is quite refreshing. It steers away from the staid concept typical of Korean romance soap operas. It also gives viewers a good insight into the realities behind the production of TV dramas, and allows them to better appreciate the efforts put in by the entire production team and dozens of unknowns in order to make a show a hit.

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What would you have done if you suddenly find yourself stranded in space and time with a perfect (and weird) stranger while waiting for the MRT one day?

Scream and cry in sheer desperation? Wallow in fear and helplessness? Or reminisce about your life stories as you cross your heart and hope to die (in one piece, no less)? 

A pair of bickering office executives – the two protagonists in Moon Story – are caught in just such a situation.

Moon Story is a 90-minute theatrical collaboration between Singapore’s The Theatre Practice and Hong Kong Repertory Theatre. The play takes place at the Drama Centre Black Box, not on an actual train platform; and its familiar premise – one depicting the feelings of isolation and insecurities of urbanites – is both intriguing and interesting.

Trapped in an apocalyptic situation, everything around the man (performed interchangeably on different days by Hong Kong’s Yau Ting Fai and Singapore’s Jeffrey Low) and woman (also separately starring Singapore’s Jo Kwek and Hong Kong’s Wong Wai Chi) has seemingly collapsed, and the pair embark on a reflective journey.

Through their casual but crisp English-Mandarin-Cantonese banter (kudos to a well-written script), the audience is taken on an absurdist sojourn (involving other quirky characters), as they zip through snippets of their lives.

Yau, with his steady delivery and consistent energy, brings his loquacious but loveable character to life. Kwek’s portrayal of a feisty lady is not too bad either. Two supporting actors, namely Wang Wei and Rosa Maria Velasco, threaten to steal the limelight with their impressionable portrayals of a stick-in-the-mud-boyfriend-turns-imaginary-Ultraman and suicidal bozo and foxy tramp respectively.

It doesn’t matter if you find yourself experiencing cognitive dissonance as you come face to face with non-linear sequences that don’t seem to flow or make sense. Neither should you wonder at the ludicrousness of certain philosophical musings or occasional comical exaggerations and spoofs (which, incidentally provided great comic relief in what could potentially turn out to be a stifling play).

For such is the chaotic state of a modern urbanite’s mind…

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The Liar Game is a 13-episode Japanese drama adapted from a manga series. It kicks off with Nao Kanziki (of Death Note fame), an innocent and gullible young woman, receiving a letter and video tape inviting her to play a titular game.

The game works this way: Nao and an opponent are each given a stake of 100 million and she has to take as much money as she can from her antagonist within a month, while preventing him or her from getting any from her. Stealing and cheating is allowed in this game. When the time is up, both of them will have to return the money plus their loot.

At first, Nao's opponent manages to trick her into giving him her entire stake after lying about how he will help her take care of it. When she realises that she has been tricked, she enlists the help of a swindler and succeeds in getting her money back.

Soon after, Nao receives yet another letter inviting her to play another round of the game with 20 other players plus her original challenger in what is known as a minority game. The minority must try to vote off the majority, and Nao gets tricked yet again. Now, will she bounce back this time?

Watch how the exciting game unfolds. It would be interesting to find out if Nao will remain the kind-hearted girl that she is, or eventually evolve into a slick swindler. Have fun!

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Before watching this Mandarin play by The Theatre Practice, it had never occurred to me that catching a comedy could turn out to be a stressful affair. As this show is touted as a send-up gig, I had expected it to be more cheeky than kitsch. But instead of laugh-out-loud chortles, I found myself fretting over the fact that I could only manage a few whimpering sniffles!

Yes, I can already hear you accusing me of being an overly uptight soul who's incapable of loosening up, and protesting that there were many others who couldn't stop chuckling from the minute they stepped into the theatre. But seriously, there isn't much to cackle about when you know that the witless gags are there to merely conceal a paper-thin plot, and nothing more.

Before I get too carried away, here's a summary of the story: Qiu Hu (singer Ric Liu) is a poor man who gets enlisted in a battle barely a day after getting wed to Mei Ying (songstress Joanna Dong), the beautiful daughter of a morally-confused Luo Da Hu (funnyman Jonathan Lim).

Upon his return from the war some 10 years later, Mei Ying's recruit-turned-official husband chances upon her at some mulberry shrubs. But instead of a joyous reunion, the duo gets embroiled in a misunderstanding as they couldn't recognise each other! Things get even more complicated when an animated nouveau riche character (Darius Tan) tries (in vain) to force the feisty bride to marry him.

The artistes deserve commendations for their efforts in keeping their energy level at a constant high. Besides having to dish out numerous song-and-dance routines (a mixture of irreverent spoofs, lack-lustre adaptations and droning ballads), they also have to deliver chunks of literary-meets-modern-day lingo prose.

It's just a pity that this potentially ground-breaking musical should get bogged down by its ambition to impress... simply for the sake of impressing, really.

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Based on a true story that has touched many hearts in Japan, this show is about two teens who fell in love with each other as a result of a misplaced mobile phone.

Although they attend the same school, the two protagonists – Hiro and Mika – do not know each other. One day, Mika drops her mobile phone in the library and Hiro picks it up. He starts making anonymous calls to her, and eventually, the pair decides to meet up.

Mika is shocked when she meets Hiro for the first time, as he seems uncouth and rebellious, unlike the gentle-sounding boy on the phone. However, Hiro manages to convince Mika that he is indeed the same person as the one on the phone, and they start dating each other.

A string of events occur shortly after; these include Mika getting pregnant and losing her unborn child in an accident, and Hiro discovering that he has a terminal illness.

In spite of all these obstacles, the love between the two never seems to fizzle, even as Hiro draws his last breath and finally succumbs to cancer. This touching flick is a must-watch as it teaches you to treasure those around you. Be sure to catch it soon!

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Thirty-year-old college student Gu-chang (played by Bong Tae-gyu) has never kissed a girl before. He blames his lack of luck and down-and-out plight on the fact that he is still (financially) dependent on his sister and family.

One day, he happens to pick up a wallet at a dining hall and meets Anni (starring Jeong Ryeo-won), its owner. He falls in love with the charming lass almost instantly and the two soon hits it off.

Much as everything seems perfect, he also discovers another side of this supposedly perfect girl - one that is feisty, violent and wild.

He then realises that this lovely girl actually suffers from multiple personality disorder and he has merely fallen in love with one of her various fabricated personas.

How will the duo's story end? Catch this romantic flick to find out!

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Death Note followers around the world will definitely look forward to this spin-off.

In the previous installment, L (starring Kenichi Matsuyama) managed to solve a mysterious crime case (albeit paying a painful price for it) with loggerhead Light Yagami (played by Tatsuya Fujiwara). The latter tried to use a cursed notebook to execute criminals through Kira (God of Death).

This time round, L has to tackle yet another tough case; he has to save a group of villagers from a deadly virus and a twisted environmental group who wants to "cleanse the world", as well as avenge a friend (called F) within 23 days.

The plot thickens when an English-speaking boy (a lone survivor of the infected village) and a Japanese girl (who happens to be the child of a professor who developed an antidote to the virus) come into the picture. Apparently, both of them are key to solving the crisis at hand.

Things also get complicated when L gets caught in a desperate situation while trying to protect the kids. Will he take matters into his own hands and attempt to change the world by playing Kira?

Watch the show to find out!

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Ring in Chinese New Year by catching this festive blockbuster by Hong Kong director-actor Stephen Chow (of Kung Fu Hustle fame)!

This flick, a comedy featuring Chow's signature style and jokes, is about Ti (played by the superstar himself) his son and their bizarre "pet", which the former has picked up.

Here's how the story goes:
Ti harbours the dream of giving his son, Dicky. something which he could never have - a good education. So he works all day at a construction site to enable his son, Dicky, (starring newcomer Xu Jiao) to attend an elite private school.

Dicky, however, finds it hard to blend in with the school culture and gel with the rich kids, as he is ill-groomed, wears tattered clothes and has none of the cool toys his peers possess. As a result, he sticks out like a sore thumb.

Being the good provider that he aims to be, Ti scours a junkyard to find stuff for his son. One day, he chances upon a mysterious orb, which he thinks would make a great toy. He decides to bring it home as a surprise gift for Dicky.

To both their astonishment, the item turns out to be an alien with extraordinary powers. Father and son then decide to name it CJ7.

Armed with this "thing", Dicky feels empowered and seizes the chance to cast aside his shabby garb, and break free from poverty. At last, he manages to impress his fellow classmates. But how long will this good fortune last, and will CJ7 do as Dicky wishes? Watch this show to find out!

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This performance, directed by Leela Alaniz of Brazil, is dynamic and compelling.

A physical theatre piece, the play examines the kamikaze spirit, and looks at how political forces and psychological indoctrination can influence minds and cause human beings to lose their sense of morality.

The cast members hail from Singapore, India, Mexico, Malaysia and Hong Kong, and are graduates of the Theatre Training and Research Programme, which comprises training modules that incorporate traditional Asian theatre systems and modern techniques, and aims to groom actors for contemporary theatre.

If you're keen to catch this performance, keep a lookout for more news on it at the end of this month!

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I need to get something off my chest.

Chesty Nutty Bang Bang: The Hairspray of the Phoenix, the eleventh installation of an annual local spoof fest, is one madcap satire.

No, That’s inaccurate. It’s more than just that; this parody is a melting pot of deliciously guilty indulgences, sinfully perverse pleasures and wickedly comical debaucheries.

There, I feel better now.

If you are an avid follower of pop culture and the arts scene, you’d probably have no problem appreciating the send-ups and merciless jibes relating to the movies (Harry Porter, X-Men, The Tattooist, Transformers, Hairspray, I Am Legend), music (the infamous MDA rap, Asian Idol, NDP 2007, High School Musical), plays (King Lear, Beauty World, If There’re Seasons), notorious personalities and public figures featured in this production. On the other hand, if you’ve been leading a spaced-out life on Mars and only interacting with the occasional one-eyed terrestrial being for the past year, then this crunchy chestnut treat may not go down very well with you.

Playing to the demanding rollercoaster-style scripts/songs and impossibly reckless settings are nutcases Jonathan Lim (also the writer and director), Judy Ngo, Rodney Oliveiro and guest stars Yeo Yann Yann (one half of the “Papaya Sisters”), Joakim Gomez (Singapore Idol finalist) and the ever-dependable Celine Rosa Tan. Commendably, the cast actually manages to zap in and out of the various theatrical séances like seasoned spirits.

Every actor is given an equal chance to shine in this production, although the striking Yann Yann constantly threatens to upset the applecart. Seasonal chestnuts Judy, Rodney and Celine pique the audience’s interest with much aplomb, while Jonathan tantalises them with a flair that’s befitting of a well-oiled chestnut, er, veteran. Hybrid chestnut Joakim, in his first stage stint, also teases with his portrayal of a nubile cabaret dancer and enduring Indian restaurateur (hint, hint: remember a recent telco ad set in Mumbai?).

Compacting so much in a single package means that the pacing can sometimes be a tad unnerving and disorienting. I nearly suffered indigestion from an overdose of 881-inspired lampoons. Thankfully, the mobile phone ring-tone series (which is so refreshingly remixed that I wished I could download them from the organisers after the gig!) and Theatre in Ten (a whirlwind round-up of theatrical quirks) helped to ease my heartburn. (You know, I wasn’t kidding when I said I had to get something off my chest.)

So if you’re feeling stifled, go get a load of these delectably roasted chestnuts and laugh your heart out!

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This Slam Dunk manga- and anime-inspired film revolves around Shi-Jie, an orphaned boy (starring Jay Chou) who grows up in a martial arts university and later becomes a talented basketball player.

The basketball prodigy soon gets tricked by his wicked uncle, Wang-Li (played by Eric Tsang). On the pretext of helping Shi-Jie search for his family, Wang-Li makes use of his nephew by getting him to play with a money-making basketball team.

After joining the squad, Shi-Jie finds himself attracted to Li-Li, who's the sister of the team captain, Ting-Wei (starring Chen Bo-Lin). In a desperate bid to draw her attention, Shi-Jie attempts to compete with Li-Li's idol, Xiao-Lan (played by Baron Chen). This eventually led to conflicts between them all.

Amidst the discord, a new party enters. This character helps Shi-Jie to combine kungfu chops with his basketball skills, and the latter soon becomes a remarkable player who helps his team through many critical competitions.

Everything goes well until another obstacle, involving briberies, cheats and bullies, surfaces. What can Shi-Jie do to save the day? Can he lead his team to create a miracle? Will he finally locate his family and be with the love of his life? Catch the show to find out!

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It is said that the journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step. But for some people, whose feet are swollen with blisters from excessive walking, taking that first step is already an ordeal.

Brat Camp China is a locally-produced, China-based series of social commentaries about parents who send their out-of-whack kids to an atypical marching school, in a last ditch effort to discipline them and correct their shortcomings.

If you think that the marching stint undertaken by these delinquent youths is but a walk in the park, you are wrong! Not only do the camouflage uniform-donning adolescents have to stick to a rigorous and physically demanding regime, they have to carry out orders and undergo arduous training like dutiful soldiers as well. Left with absolutely no pocket money, mummies or maids to wash their clothes and serve them meals, these once-pampered children have no choice but to learn to grow up – fast.

The offering showcases several interesting characters, who try to come to terms with their emotional turmoil, trials and tribulations as they embark on their gruelling expedition. It’s easy for one to develop an emotional attachment for Li Bo, a simple-minded but endearing “village weakling” who gets bullied by his peers; Luo Wenhui, a dainty “cry-baby” who struggles to fend for herself and fit in with the rest; Zhang Tao, a rebellious “poster boy” whose untameable petulance threatens to sabotage his make-good efforts; and Hu Qiao, a sprightly “ah lian” who lights up the show with her whimsy antics.

Up-and-coming documentary-maker Ang Aik Heng helms and directs Brat Camp China with sure-handed flair and plenty of heart. And viewers will find the outing’s commendable stylistics and humanistic slant intriguing. Poignantly crafted, beautifully shot and deftly edited with measured succinctness, this gem of a production boasts of a purposefulness and nuanced quality that makes it a cut above the rest.

So go on, take the first step by remembering to catch this acclaimed programme on National Geographic Channel this Saturday evening. This awe-inspiring and bitter-sweet journey of self-discovery is one you definitely won’t want to miss!

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